2: Glassblowing is the art of creating glass sculptures through the manipulation of molten glass. Glassblowing was first developed in the Middle East around 300 BC. Since then, glass blown products have become indispensible to daily life, as well as to scientific innovation, and glassblowing has emerged as a major art form. There are two types of glassblowing: lampworking, which is done with a blowtorch, and off-hand, which works glass on the end of a hollow tube.

3: The demonstration of "off-hand" glassblowing.

4: "Off hand" glassblowing steps

5: Gather the molten glass. With a hollow steel tube, or blowpipe, gather the glass from the furnace (the oven where molten glass is kept). Gathering glass requires continuous rotation of the steel rod in the furnace, in order to gather the glass steadily and evenly.

6: Marver (shape) your glass. Once the glass is stable, you can carry it to a steel table, called a marver, and begin shaping it. Glass shaping begins with rolling the hot glass on a marver. The goal is to create a centered cylinder. It is important to make sure that your cylinder is symmetrical. Once you’ve achieved your cylinder, continue to rotate the blowpipe, to prevent the glass from dripping off.

8: Dipping the molten glass into the 'gravy boat' for the overall color.

9: Shaping and rolling the molten glass for additional color.

10: Cap. Blow into the pipe then cover the hole with your thumb. The heat will cause the trapped air to expand inside the pipe, which in turn will create a bubble. This first gather and bubble is called the parison. Once you have an even-walled bubble, you may again marver and gather more glass. You must remember to rotate the rod continuously as you move from the marver to the furnace and glory hole (the oven that reheats the glass to keep it malleable).

12: The final steps...

13: The dish is carefully attached to the base. | A glass base is prepared on the marver. | The candy dish is tapped from the cylinder.

14: Annealing. Carefully carry it over to the annealer. This is an oven that cools glass at a controlled rate. Leave it to cool overnight.